Brad Reid

I've never used Gliss, got scared off years ago when it first came out and there were some horrible reviews. What was odd were the reports that certain Gliss test strengths worked well, sort of as advertised, others not even close. And, there were some early labeling discrepancies. Since then, I have heard many more positives about Gliss than negatives. So, back to Sufix Nanobraid. Sufix says it uses a tighter winding, more of the braided strands crossing per inch or other length metric. I have just really enjoyed it for spinning gear. And, I have been experimenting a bit more with straight braid. Here, I have no doubt that 6 lbs. would hold pretty much anything. I used the 2 lbs. yesterday afternoon and caught a bunch of crappie, one bass and several bluegills. On 2lbs. test, be certain and order some Mepps Plain Aglia (no dressing) with a silver blade. Get it in a #00 size, so very tiny and a hoot to go out and run it over bluegill and crappie locations. Brad

I used Sufix 832 in 10 lbs., usually in its yellow color, to an 8 lbs. Invizx leader almost exclusively on my spinning gear. for years. Still have it on many reels as it lasts forever. Then, several years ago, I ordered 2lbs. Sufix Nanobraid for an ultralight set up and fell in love with it. No fish, to this date, has ever broken me off. This test size is so fine at .001" it almost looks like spider silk. I used it yesterday afternoon, targeting primarily crappie and panfish, but caught bass, too. So, it is available up to 14 lbs. test and its diameter there is .18 mm compared to 10 lbs. 832 at .20 mm. Nanobraid casts like a dream and I think you could tow a car with it. Hmm! Running straight braid? I'd drop as low as 6 lbs. and, maybe even 4, and never have a second thought about its ability to land any size LMB. Also, this small stuff, if I were interested in maximizing casting distance. Going to need to pull a big girl out of slop on occasion? The 14 test will cast better than 10 lbs. 832 and be much stronger. For using it with leaders, I'd likely settle in at something between 10 and 14 just owing to needing a bit of diameter to tie a better junction knot. Brad

Every so often a topic rolls around where you REALLY learn something new and the idea of using an inexpensive luggage scale just never occurred to me. It makes the cost of being a member here seem more reasonable . . . WAIT a minute . . . it is a free site making this sort of information, these nuggets of shared ideas/wisdom priceless! I'm going to buy a luggage scale. I have no excuses left. Ha! A big thanks for this idea, too, the better choices described for the dedicated fish scales. Brad

For you canoe/kayak anglers, the one rod and reel I always carry out, use the most: A 5'6" M powered, F, St Croix spinning rod (PS56MF) with a Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 2500 or 3000 reel. Gosh, for finesse applications from a kayak where we can get "up close and personal," for casting under docks, for accuracy, a short lever for great control over fish especially as you bring them along side to lip them . . . greatness. Brad

FYI, I chose to order a Triumph spinning rod in a M power, 7'6" length. From my boat house deck, I needed a rod to cast a bit farther to reach a creek channel, a few other spots just beyond my current limitations on rod casting distance.. Other than an UL rod of that same length, I have nothing in my rod arsenal greater than 7 feet. Brad

Just a quick note here that I received an email notification from St. Croix that it has a sale on Reign rods, both spinning and casting versions. I really don't quite know how Reign fits into the St. Croix family but it seems to be that they use the blanks, maybe more features, and build a lower price point offering. Rod prices down to $65 so very competitive for someone looking to fill in a gap in their rod collections. I picked up one of each last Christmas, like the rods a whole lot. No, I have no affiliation of any sort with St. Croix. Just a customer passing along the info here. Cheers! Brad Reign Rod sale P.S. also a sale on some other St. Croix rods, like Triumphs, where you can get one of their fly rods for 50% off.

Tom has the "math" correct here that fishing line is rarely taxed to the extent that stretch comes into play. Arriving at the point where line begins to materially stretch is rarely the weak link in the system. The issue is rather parameterized by the characteristics of the rod being used. The most obviously stretchy line I have ever encountered? That Cajun Red mono that often (always?) comes pre-wound on Zebco spincasters. Gosh, that stuff is like a rubber band! If you tried to use, say, the 12 lbs. test strength of this line on a 7'6" Heavy, Fast rod to pull big girls out of goop? Then, we do move into the realm of stretch becoming a factor. The rod is heavy enough, the length long enough to magnify the force created with a big hook set, the line stretchy enough to affect the transmission of force down to the hook. Pretty extreme. Back to the OP's question. He is looking for a BC mono line to both skip jigs and double up for presentations casting rather heavy topwater lures up to 1 oz. I think he has the test strength dialed in about correct in the 14 to 15 lbs. range for doing both here. I'd go with line handling characteristics choosing a line: knot holding, performance on the reel. I'm a Sufix fan. Brad

Jack of all trades, master of none? Likely the general consensus would be 7 footer, M power for a spinning rod, MH power for a casting rod. For fishing out of a kayak or canoe where I can closely approach my targets? If I could only take a single rod out, it'd be my 5'6" M powered St. Croix spinning rod. Brad

I'll just add that I own two rods from the St. Croix Panfish series. My little 5 footer makes for a fun match against big bull bluegills. The rod handles them well including the occasional 2 or 3 lbs. bass that jumps aboard thinking of my tiny jigs/plastics as "snacks" I guess. And, I have the longer 6'9" St. Croix Panfish rod for more casting distance. I use it much less frequently since I fish from a kayak or canoe a lot, float up closer to my intended targets. Both rods are great. As nice as these St. Croix rods are, neither is even remotely close to my rather high-end Shimano Soare XTune S706UL-T rod. Its 7'6" length is a contributing factor for long casts, its hand grip is the best of any rod I own, workmanship/detail off the charts. I bought it slightly used from Rob, a member and occasional poster here, who takes exceptional care of his equipment. Brad

I typically prefer 10 lbs. braid to an 8 lbs. fluoro (Invizx) leader. I used to use 832 and still like it . . . but I have found that Sufix Nanobraid is smaller in diameter, casts farther. If you intend to cast straight braid, no leader, I'd go down to 6 lbs. Nanobraid. Nothing can break it. It'd work great on a M power spinning rod especially if you use your rod to fight the fish as is intended for a spinning rod and reel. As I have stated before, I can't even imagine using over 10 lbs. braid on a M powered spinning gear. Brad

I'll share a trick. Make your leader down to the dropped sinker rather long, say 36" but then add a rather tiny split shot about 6" above your hook. Make your "drop" and pull your line slightly taut. If you are too high, no fish biting, drop your rod tip slowly and the split shot will gently drop and pull the hook and plastic lower. You can work from 36" to 6" in this example. Brad

I do think it alters the balance ever so slightly. But, sitting in a kayak means that even with a relatively short butt end, it is still rather lodged into the tummy area. But, just not so much that once you start moving the rod tip around, it interferes. When standing or using this rod from a shoreline, it might be different. I am just a huge fan of short rods for kayak angling. My favorite is this 5'6" M power, fast St. Croix. Casting accuracy is so enhanced, skippin under docks, and the power from the short lever is surprising. It's my "never leave home without it rod" and I often go out with just this one rod if I am just finesse fishing. Brad

Good review and it jibes with my general observations about a new Cashion spinning rod I received last summer as part of a bonus for a kayak purchase I made. It is one of the Cashion rods designed for kayak usage, that is, with a shorter butt end where the problem of having one too long is it jabs into your midsection, prevents you from swinging your rod around freely. My general impression is it is a very sensitive rod, otherwise sort of what I'd think of as a mid-range offering. More Chevy than Caddy in terms of fit and finish. Yes, mine has some sort of houndstooth design for its handle material. At first, I thought, yuck, but then I started appreciating it . . . like seeing Tom Landry in one of his hats back decades ago. Conservatively stylish! And, some of you know that I am a champion of short rods for kayaking, gosh, what an advantage. This kayak rod sort of fits that definition. Brad

On a M powered spinning rod, I can't even imagine using 20 lbs. braid on its reel. 10 lbs. straight braid or with a 6 to 8 lbs. fluoro leader would be so much better. You can't break 10 lbs. braid, fish can't either. But, it casts so much better. If you don't use leaders, you could go down to 6 lbs. braid, I'd suggest Sufix Nanobraid. You still can't break it. It casts even farther. Agreed on braid for casting reels . . . at least 30 lbs. test. Brad

Unless the body of water rises quite a lot owing to what falls directly into it, this, and watershed and river sources, there's not much effect. An inch of rain doesn't change conditions much. If water has risen quite a lot, fish tend to give up their former favorite spots looking for a better situation owing to new water levels. If they favor 3 feet of water tight to cover, for example, that might be in a different place after a bunch of water spreads the lake out. Almost always, high winds and rains "stir" the water up, certainly water draining down into the lake and especially coming in from rivers/creeks will do this, so the water will be less clear until it settles out again. The general thought here is murkier water means you need to use colors that are more easily seen (black is often recommended), use presentations where fish can hear or feel it like a spinnerbait. My general take is fish in ponds seem to always be super hungry, rain or no rain. Brad

Tatsu is a great line made by a great company, no doubt. If you are casting a Drop Shot, I could certainly see using Tatsu as a main line with no leader. But, if you are making short pitches or otherwise drop shotting rather vertically, what a waste of a great line and a waste of money. If you are using 6 or 8 feet fluorocarbon leaders to braid main lines for drop shotting, again, what a waste and misuse of a great line. In both of these cases, Invizx would perform just as well. I'd only recommend Tatsu for casting presentations. There, it definitely shines. Brad

Sure, again, some of it, which part I don't know, is likely apocryphal or greatly exaggerated. Other parts, and several of our northern fellow anglers commented on this and called it out for what it is, are based on prejudices. Likely "hand me down" prejudices, not even actually experienced by these opinion holders. "Granddaddy told me about them danged Yankee anglers!" And, yes, there's this element in all of life now, and fishing isn't exempted from people walking around with some sort of chip on their shoulder. 2019 = larger chips, more shoulders. Brad

Topic finally dying a slow death. Glad to know many others haven't had many issues on the water, seldom anyway. Enough posts now of the other sort that no one can say I am pointing a finger at a particular post; but, at least some of these are apocryphal, half-imagined or made out of whole cloth. Couldn't say which ones, I really don't know, but fishermen and hyperbole are hard to separate. They certainly do happen, rude episodes/poor boating and fishing etiquette on the water, just pretty rare. Brad

A Shimano Stradic Ci4+ is priced about the same as an FK. Hmm? Gosh, I was lost with all the model names for various Shimano spinning reels. Note that what Tom spoke of regarding spools is at work here for the Ci4+ in 2500 and 3000 sizes. They weigh the same amount, the 3000 just holds a bit more line, that is, a deeper spool but not a large diameter. When line comes springing off in coils, larger diameter "coils" would make for a bit longer casts, but there'd be no advantage for a 2500 and 3000 topped off at the same diameter, not for these two reels. For the presentations you are describing, regardless of which Shimano you select, a 3000 will do the trick and would be much more versatile in the sense it could fit rods down farther in size. Brad

Well, 100 yards, if you mean in all directions as if fishing open water is . . . 6.49 acres. That is asking for a whole lot of water to yourself. It is rather circumstantial, too, adding this to the fact there are no hard and fast rules. Yesterday, I was fishing a shoreline where there is a little narrowing between it and a small island. As I came around, I was working the bank in my kayak, the boaters came into view and were working/casting toward the island. We slid right past each other, no issues. I'm sure they'd have liked to have tossed a few toward the shore and I would have liked to toss a few toward the island but no worries. Brad

I suppose I'll represent the other side here. I have been canoe and kayak fishing for 5 years, and since I live on a lake, I likely get out way more often than most here, and I can't think of a single negative incident with a boater, another kayaker, really nothing. I haven't had any lake owners hassle me either. I know it happens. My next door neighbor's son, with his dad on board fishing in the high school Regionals a few years ago, got hassled by a boathouse owner on Lake Palestine. I saw the video. So did the game warden! Today, I was out for a very long day, stopped and chatted with 3 or 4 boaters, all just as friendly as can be as we passed each other, shared stories, etc. Too, some dude at the ramp as I was putting my kayak in was enamored with it so I gave him a quick primer on the advantages of kayak fishing. He was a bank angler fishing off the pier. So far, so good! Brad

I associate "pulling line off" with casting reels more so than spinning reels. Casting gear really pendulums the lure back in a semi-circle until it grounds out. What I do is just leave my bail open, maybe lift my rod tip to pull off a bit of line that way as the lure hits the water. I suppose it also depends on the weight of what I have thrown. If it is a Senko or something like that, it'll generally pull line off an open bail; if it is something really light, it might need some help. Brad

I post this just because this bull bluegill was so danged pretty. I have caught them much longer than this one on Lake Athens here in east Texas; but, this guy was really, really thick. My flip phone photo doesn't do him justice. Oh, yes! After I put away my ultralight tackle, I got into a mess of LMBs, too! Late afternoon fishing yesterday! Nothing very large, 6 or 7 as I recall, all in the 2 to 2.5 lbs. range. Brad

Ha! Funny! And, a bit true. Being left handed is a bit like being 7 feet tall and complaining you can't buy clothes "off the rack" . . . while you are signing a $10 million a year NBA contract! Brad

Lefty, here, been one now for almost 67 years! Ha! I can't even imagine giving away our great advantages in sport, including fishing. I really can't. And, so correct, that we are to some extent typically more ambidextrous than righties. We have to be: zippers, buttons, butter knives come to mind. For golf, the biggest mistake I ever made was starting with left handed clubs. Golf courses generally "turn" in a direction that general favors the ball flight of a right-handed player. But, even more so, I recall the first time someone told me about "my mistake" that a golf club's power comes from the front arm, that a club is pulled through, not pushed through. The back hand and arm, while adding some, too, are more directional in nature. I should have learned using right handed gear! Then, for the guitar. My understanding is the guitar we call "right handed" was actually first designed for a left handed player. Here, I was smart (well, no choice actually) and I have my dominant hand, most dexterous hand, on the neck . . . where it should be. This, with lefty Hendrix notwithstanding, and his odd guitar set-up. I wonder how he'd have played just using a regular guitar? Must be some story there. Then, baseball. Wow! George Will once wrote and stated some statistic like the very large majority of Pro baseball hall of famers, there for hitting prowess, batting over .330 . . . were left handed. Like 70% of them. That's even more impressive knowing we comprise only roughly 7% of the population. This is more than just a statistical oddity. And, just in general, being a lefty has always been good for hitting. Ted Williams, Mel Ott, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, George Brett, Tony Gwynn, Darryl Strawberry, Barry Bonds, David Justice, Ken Griffey Jr., so many more. Then, those switch hitters who could go lefty, too, like Mickey Mantle! Boxing? Advantage lefty if for no other reason than righties just don't see them as often, but lefties see righties all the time. Oh! for those who are great counter-punchers, what a super advantage a left handed boxer has countering a straight right hand, defending it first, then the counter-punch. Fishing? For me, both casting and spinning reels are the same: I cast with my dominant arm, my left, fight the fish with my dominant arm, reel with my right hand. I can't imagine it any other way. Brad